---
title: "2019 Ford Mustang California Special Gets Updates Inside and Out"
description: "After introducing us to the new Bullitt Mustang, Ford is doubling down on the nostalgia-fueled, special edition muscle cars."
date: "2018-03-12"
modified: "2018-03-12"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/19156/the-2019-ford-mustang-california-special-gets-updates-inside-and-out"
categories:
  - "Ford News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Coupe"
  - "Ford"
  - "Muscle Cars"
  - "Mustang"
  - "special editions"
  - "sports car"
---

# 2019 Ford Mustang California Special Gets Updates Inside and Out

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/03/3a1a9808_c1-e1520852023731.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

After introducing us to the [new Bullitt Mustang](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/17673/ford-reveals-2019-ford-mustang-bullitt-teases-fully-electric-mach-1>), Ford is doubling down on the nostalgia-fueled, special edition muscle cars.

First appearing on the scene in 1968, the original California Special Mustang featured a smattering of cosmetic tweaks including fog lights, hood pins, and a stripe down the side that ran into a new side scoop. For 2019, Ford is bringing the Golden State-inspired limited edition back, giving its muscle car a similarly light sprinkling of upgrades.

The 2019 [Mustang](<https://thestore.thedrive.com/>) California Special's headline mechanical feature is auto rev-matched downshifts for manual, V8 model owners who'd like to heel-and-toe but, y'know, can't. For the driver's aural pleasure, the car also comes with a 12-speaker, 1,000-watt Bang & Olufsen sound system along with a quad-tip, active valve performance exhaust system for four-cylinder EcoBoost models.

Most notably, perhaps, is the Cali Special's fading side stripe that flows from the "5.0" badge and into the side scoop. New five-spoke wheels, blacked-out grille, and a front splitter borrowed from the Performance Pack 1 round out the cosmetic changes. Climbing inside, this limited-run Mustang is adorned with Miko suede seats, red stitching, and special "GT/CS" embroidering throughout.

Ford says the California Special Mustang will be available in a variety of vibrant-looking paint jobs including, crucially, the same Dark Highland Green that comes on the Bullitt.

![message-editor%2F1520855026440-3a1a98981.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1520855026440-3a1a98981.jpg>)
*Ford Motor Company*

![message-editor%2F1520855030388-3a1a9785\_c1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1520855030388-3a1a9785_c1.jpg>)
*Ford Motor Company*

![message-editor%2F1520855033606-3a1a1025\_c1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1520855033606-3a1a1025_c1.jpg>)
*Ford Motor Company*

![message-editor%2F1520855036978-3a1a7860\_c1.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1520855036978-3a1a7860_c1.jpg>)
*Ford Motor Company*

![message-editor%2F1520855040248-3a1a8841.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1520855040248-3a1a8841.jpg>)
*Ford Motor Company*

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)